The Action of the Communist Regime against Political Exiles

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Anglisticum Journal (AJ),Volume: 5 | Issue: 5, May 2016 |

Research Article

Drita Avdyli Mediterranean University of Albania

After 1960 the communist regime continued to be frustrated by the support Western nations and neighbouring Balkan countries gave the Albanian political migration. On the other hand, it should be noted that, in fact, cooperation with non-Communist political emigration countries came fading and this migration was losing its former importance as a force to hit the regime of Enver Hoxha. Western support for immigration was conspicuous in the field of anti-communist propaganda. Different countries like UK, USA, Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia Vatican, etc. made available to the political exiles their radios o r created radio sound specialized centres for Albania and for the Diaspora. In these organs also worked several Albanian immigrants, mainly for programs in Albanian, as Tajar Zavalani, Andon Logoreci, Alfred Andoni etc., in BBC; dom Zef Shestani, Daniel Gjeçaj , on radio Vatican, etc., and others in radio "Free Europe", "Voice of America" etc. where for example Talat Karagjozi worked for 30 years as director of the Albanian branch of Voice of America radio. In the 70s - 80s, the political emigration itself created several radios as the BK, Legality in the US. To maintain longer social-communist system, the Albanian government took some political Reaction against immigration during the period 1960-1990, which were very severe.

Severe violence against the communist government used family members and relatives of political emigrants who remained in Albania, as the penalties and measures for banishment or deportation of members of their families; Correspondence ban, packages of money; pressures and threats against family members to be able to require their people emigrated to renounce anti-regime actions, writing letters or through telephone conversations, played a role in the neutralization of in division of a part of the anti-against immigration . Restrictive measures were taken against traders who had financed former regime opponents.

State Security took strong measures and ongoing efforts to discover, and hit immigration of Albanian political activity. through Penetration in the immigration groups it achieved to crutch Xhevdet Mustafa group; group of "anti-heroic struggle of Albania Front" led by Abdul Banushi who in 1975 was sent to Albania.

Albania's communist government used to divide anti- immigration recruit friends and people from the regime of Albania colonies. These have acted directly or indirectly, individually or collectively, to encourage dissensions among political exiles. Particularly engaged in this battle by the Communist regime Communist Marxist Leninist were elements of different foreign countries.

The collection, devising and dissemination of materials compromising immigration heads of the groups, were used by the regime to promote disruption of the migration. The publication of these materials in the press or via radio award, gave positive results to the regime.

Thus was promoted papers on "purchase" of Ahmet Zogu and many other leaders of the anti-communist by Italians, Yugoslavs, the British and Americans; materials about the National Front cooperation with Italian and German invaders, "connections" BK Legality supposedly of Greek reaction, the Vatican, the Anglo - Americans etc.. Such materials are mainly published in the newspaper '' The truth about traitors "and" New Albania "which continued to be published almost until the collapse of the regime.

The communist government tried to use these materials to denounce the anti- Albania organizations before state authorities police authorities of different countries and to encourage them to take restrictive measures against them. These efforts were particularly intensive in neutral countries or in countries that were linked to the communist government. With this activity, the regime tried to incite the rivalry and quarrels between foreign intelligence.

The Action of the Communist Regime against

Political Exiles

Political Science

Keywords:Political Immigration, the communist regime, Diaspora, open war, etc.

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Regime was driven by national conceit and different immigrants to neutralize and encourage them to abandon the operation against him. The regime aims advantage of territorial claims and anti countries and neighboring nationalist circles, to charge responsibility of anti- immigration and to incriminate him, although there was no authority for this claim. National liberation war, the regime propagated in Diaspora simply as a a pure patriotic war, hiding encouragement and organization of the civil war and his pro activity on behalf of the Yugoslav chauvinists communist internationalism.

Communist government and its agencies to use some roads immigration hit political propaganda press distribution, literature and films to propagate "socialist life"; especially after years "60 diplomatic missions were expanded and intensified and organizational tools of propaganda were intensified , preparation of radios broadcasts in Tirana and in several other radios, especially for Albanians abroad programs.

Some former combatants repatriated were encouraged to appeal to the Albanians of America who were members of Vatra, to cast Q. Panariti and Ballists and Zogistest who had supposedly put the Vatra under the influence of the US State Department, being introduced in a dangerous path against the homeland.

Propaganda against the political immigration proceeded with intensity within the country.In the 80 was opened an exhibition with materials of the group of Xhevdet Mustafa.

Also for these purposes was also raised the museum of MOI which remained opened many years Among the 80 Voice of the People newspaper published a series of the reportages of Sofokli Lazri and Javer Malo with expats from Yugoslavia, where he describes the course with strong doses of intentional, methods that use a UDB against Albanian fugitives. Fundamental suggestion of those articles was, "The way of salvation is to return home" because only in Albania is democracy in the only Albanian people and was lord of his own fate.

Some emigrants were tired and disappointed by the lack of links with their homeland and their families. One of them stated: "It has been 16 years that we do not get any news of loved ones. I pray to God to die. All have abandoned us. "This despair was considered by the regime as a a good opportunity to discourage the political struggle against his immigration.

The regime considered as a a threat to the the political activities of immigration even tourists arriving in Albania. Therefore, the government tried to stop in maximum the arrival of the undesirable people. Bringing gifts and money from their own relatives, was seen with suspicion of the seditious activity and compromising control regime struck harshly in such cases. The suspicion was that, through tourism, the country will enter in political migrants and agents of foreign countries. Therefore the place was almost hermetically sealed.

There were cases when the violator of the border left Albania, returned to their homes who were imprisoned. These were rare cases. There were also many cases when left from Kosovo and Albanian areas, since escaped from there and came to Albania, escaped again, getting away to their place.

In the the last throes of his life, stucked in a deep financial crisis and political regime made new efforts to rob Albanian immigrants.

In 1982 at the peak of the economic crisis and political the regime planned to benefit from assets economic and political migrants abroad using the hostages of their relatives in Albania.

On April 30, 1982 Qirjako Mihali sent information to Hekuran Isai and Nesit Naase stating that in Italy were enough economic and political Albanian immigrants (fugitives) who possessed valuable property.

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Most of them were old and ill. Given previous experience, that property after death he had "misappropriated or misused" others, he proposed that "Society Commissioner and their families in Albania, to work with them (of course forms dignified) to ensure as the hereditary property are alive "

For this purpose, Q. Mihali believed to send during this year a working group in Italy which, in addition to pursuing some other problems, to work together with the above mentioned.

He wanted the opinion of the Ministry of Interior and the Foreign in addressing these issues. Consular Society prepared a work program on immigration in Italy.

The program included in details the names and assets of the emigrants and the actions that should be made to obtain them from the Albanian government, acting on behalf of their relatives in Albania.

For economic migration were treated these owners :

1. Xhemal Ferra - Milano - He had a considerable fortune, which consisted of bank deposits and the building, which in 1979 accounted for 10-15 billion lire, or about 20 million dollars. The children were regularly sent money in total about 20 thousand dollars a year. After the return of the working group from Italy in 1980, he had sent 50,000 dollars.

For many years he was living without marriage with an Italian woman, who said she knew he had much property and influence to Xhemal. Recently, taking advantage of old age and bad health condition of Xhemal she, not without purpose, had been able to make a to the firm as a partner a relative of hers his own person, who actually ran all the work.

In these circumstances, after the death of Xhemal Society Consular felt the dangers and confusion were enough property to benefit his legal descendants. It therefore proposed that, in addition to the ongoing work that should do Albania Embassy in Rome taken the following measures:

a) To prevent the children continue to go as guests in Italy, until they assure us that their departure and will have immediate effects for sending a good amount of money and to fix the problem of inheritance.

b) Work with children here in Albania on the risks that the issue of their heritage after the death of Xhemal Ferra. Therefore find a way to solve as far as their father alive.

2. We continue direct contacts with Xhemal Ferra to convince as for delivering a quantity of money in our bank and to regulate inheritance favorable conditions for children

3. Hamdi Kamata - Milano. He was dealing with trade and had made good a fortune (capital) . He had a brother in Shkodra and, in addition to the usual deliveries, was shown ready to ship and immediately. 4. Demir Egro - Milano. Dealt with trade and was in good economic condition. He had his people in

Tirana and Vlora and can send immediately the amount.

5. Llambi Tavanxhiu - He was 90 years old, paralyzed and blind. Had been dealing with trade and had created some property. In Albania he had his wife and children. In Italy he lived with a woman who intended to take all their possessions. He sent through Switzerland, money to children. Commissioner Society thought they have to met him when he was still alive to ensure delivery of lump sum after death can not taken anything.

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6. Miti Tase - Bari. Dealt with trade and created a certain property. He was not married. He could sent to his nephews in Albania an immediate sum of money It was also suggested that with him coud be worked of even with the security of heritage

7. Vangjel Ranxha - Firence. Married there and has no kids. Older than 76 years sick and could die before his wife. Thus it was suggested to work with him, because many times he has mentioned indirectly he could arrange part of his property for his two brothers in Albania .He dealt with trade, and part from money he has to apartment, a shop and villa outside the city.

From the category of political exiles (fugitives) were treated these people:

1. Ismail Sefa - Çivitanova. He was a great commercial and Italy had done a very good asset. Possessed a shipbuilding yard, money in the bank, a resort hotel with 7-8 floors. He had his wife and children in Albania. He was old and did not see well.

In the report was written: “With this man we have to work in two directions”: How to send a very immediate some of money and ensure inheritance after death. For both must be used the family in Albania and direct contacts with him".

2. Ahmet Kalja – Milano Dealt with wholesale trade and was in good economic condition. Was married in Italy and had children. He used to send 200-500 dollars to his brothers and sisters in Albania and, if worked with, can send them instant large sums.

3. Pjetër Ndoc Pistuli - Milano. Was old and lived alone. Has created a very good property. He has his brother in Shkodra and sent him money. Should be worked for bigger amounts and heritage after death. 4. Isa Ndreu - Firence He had jewelry manufacturing factories, buildings money, etc. . He had in the

villages of Vlora 30 deported of his relatives and occasionally sending money. He has been showing availability to sent relatively great amounts of money, in case they ask for it.

5. Xhevdet Mustafa - Nju Jork - Romë. Besides shares of deposits in the bank possessed a large workshop and a hotel (outside the city).In Durres he had his mother, three brothers and a sister. Besides the usual deliveries of money, he was ready to send large sum for indoor arrangement.

6. Shaqir Mejdani - Boston - Romë. He was in good economic condition and set regularly money to his brothers and sisters in Durres. He was ready to send great amount of money immediately.

7. Haki Shehu - Detroit - Romë. He had made a good fortune. He was unmarried, too old ill. He appeared more connected with the sister who was in Vlora was willing to send in significant amounts. It had to be worked to regulate the inheritance after death.

8. Dr. Vasil Dhimitriu - Romë. Lived with his wife, but the three children were in Vlora. He had put a real property and both spouses were in old age. The Society thought that should be worked, such as money shipments, while they were alive and the inheritance after death.

References Archives

- Central Albanian State (CAS).

- Ministry of Internal Affairs Archive (MIAA). - Ministry of Foreign Archive (AMPJ).

Hoxha Enver

Always vigilance !: organizing affairs: summary Akt (Volume 2), Tirana, November 8, 1986. Titoites, 1983.

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Anglisticum Journal (AJ),Volume: 5 | Issue: 5, May 2016 | Akt, volume 4

Akt, volume 14 Akt, volume 19

- History of Albania, Volume 4, Tirana, 1984. - History of Albanian People, Tirana, 2008.

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“Free Albania”, Boston MASS, 1945-1956.

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